Mahmoud Al-Habbash was appointed Minister of Religious Affairs by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in June 2009. He served in that position until June 2014, when the Fatah-Hamas unity government was formed. He was then appointed Supreme
Shari’ah Judge and Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice.

In a press conference broadcast on Al-Aqsa TV, Al-Habbash explained that when he served as Minister of Religious Affairs, he was responsible for “all activity within the mosques” including the sermons, which require prior approval by his ministry:

“It should be noted that the Ministry of Religious Affairs held the press briefing in the conference hall at the Ministry of Information to talk about the steps taken by the PA in order to regulate the activity of the mosques…
Al-Habbash [PA Minister of Religious Affairs] emphasized that the mosques and everything related to them belong to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, from the employees – the imam, the speaker, the Quran teacher, the librarian, the caretakers and custodians –via the mosque and its adjacent structures… to regulation of the activity and the functioning, in accordance with Shari’ah and civil law…
He emphasized that the Ministry is responsible for all activity within the mosques – the functioning, the centers for Quran study, the calls to prayer, and the sermons – and that the Ministry would not take lightly or be negligent in the fulfillment of its obligation. He noted that the religious lessons, Quran study and other activities going on in the mosques require prior approval by the Ministry.” [Al-Ayyam, Aug. 16, 2010]

In his capacity as minister, Al-Habbash delivered the Friday sermons transmitted on official PA TV, using them to convey different messages to the people. The sermons, many which of are documented on PMW’s website, are a reflection of the messages that the Ministry of Religious Affairs choose to disseminate to the Palestinian people.

A recurring message propagated in Al-Habbash's sermons is that Palestinians are in a Ribat, an eternal religious conflict with Israel. In many of his sermons, Al-Habbash emphasizes the importance of Ribat as a religious duty incumbent upon all Muslim Palestinians, as expressed in the following example:

"Allah has preordained for us the Ribat (religious war) on this blessed land. We are committed to it by Allah’s command. Let no one be mistaken or under the illusion that Ribat (religious war) is a choice and nothing more. It is a commandment that necessitates hardship and requires the person to rush to fulfill this command. If Allah has chosen you for Ribat on the land of Ribat, you, the choicest of God’s servants, then this is an honor. The enemy is patient, it is waiting for the nation to collapse. The struggle over this land is not merely a struggle over a piece of land here or there. Not at all. The struggle has the symbolism of holiness, or blessing. It is a struggle between those whom Allah has chosen for Ribat and those who are trying to mutilate the land of Ribat." [Official PA TV, Feb. 12, 2010]

Official PA TV, excerpt of sermon by Mahmoud Al-Habbash at the mosque in the PA headquarters in Ramallah.

Supreme Shari’ah Judge and Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash: "This nation – I repeat – will awaken together with its clergy, with the religion, with its Quran, with the tradition of its Prophet Muhammad. This nation will awaken and uproot the evil from its land, and it will regain its rights to Jerusalem and Palestine." Click to view videoClick to view bulletin

Abbas’ advisor’s statement came in response to US President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Dec. 6, 2017 and his following threat to cancel aid to UNRWA, the PA and countries voting in favor of UN condemnation of the American recognition. Trump instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He added that the final borders of Jerusalem will be determined during negotiations.

Al-Habbash is Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs, Supreme Shari'ah Judge, and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice.

Supreme Shari’ah Judge and Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash: "The entire world has recently had its say in the face of the oppression and arrogance that the American administration is attempting to impose on us and on the world. The world is not for sale or purchase. The world's honor is not for sale… The world said: 'No.' We send our greetings to the peoples of the world that stood with the Palestinian right. We send our greetings to the states, governments, figures, and organizations that stood with the Palestinian right… As for those who have sold themselves cheaply – there is still room on the trash heap of history."Click to view videoClick to view bulletin
Abbas’ advisor’s statement came in response to US President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Dec. 6, 2017 and his following threat to cancel aid to UNRWA, the PA and countries voting in favor of UN condemnation of the American recognition. Trump instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He added that the final borders of Jerusalem will be determined during negotiations.

On Dec. 21, 2017, the UN General Assembly held a vote on a resolution condemning US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. 128 countries voted in favor of the condemnation, 9 voted against it, 35 abstained, and 21 did not participate in the vote.

Supreme Shari’ah Judge and Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash: "Do what you want, do what you want. This money that you are threatening to cancel and stop - do you imagine that we might bargain over Jerusalem? What idiocy has taken control of your minds to delude you that Jerusalem is for sale, or that one grain of sand from Palestine, all of Palestine, is for sale, or purchase, or bargaining?" Click to view videoClick to view bulletin
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Supreme Shari’ah Judge and Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash: "Thank you to the civilized world that yesterday said a decisive word [in UN vote condemning the US recognition of Jerusalem], and shame on the nine usual voices – America and a few other satellite states that I tried hard to find on the map and didn’t find their names. Palau, Malau (i.e., meant mockingly), Micronesia - states that no one has heard of! Perhaps the number of their residents equals the number of residents of a ruin, or a small village, or even a street in a Palestinian city. Are these states that will decide the fate of Jerusalem? These thsings, these names of no value? Micro-nesia, micro, small. Someone wrote: ‘I thought that was the name of an antibiotic.’"Click to view video

Abbas’ advisor’s statement came in response to US President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Dec. 6, 2017. Trump instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He added that the final borders of Jerusalem will be determined during negotiations.

Al-Habbash is Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs, Supreme Shari'ah Judge, and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice.

Supreme Shari’ah Judge and Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash: "Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque are greater than history, and greater than all of the nations and peoples… The one who determines the fate of Jerusalem is not the American president, and not America, and not all of the states of the world… The one who determined the fate of Jerusalem is Allah… Jerusalem is Arab, Islamic, Palestinian, and also Christian forever! Forever!... Trust in Allah, the balance will change. America will not remain America, and the present world will not remain as it is… The most important, permanent, and influential factor in the battle for Jerusalem – and I say this to the entire nation – is the factor of religion and faith… The victory in Jerusalem is coming, it is coming. And Jerusalem is Palestine’s capital forever! Forever! And the rubbish of the American president isn’t worth – I say again – isn’t worth the urine of one Jerusalem child." Click to view video
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Supreme Shari’ah Judge, Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs, and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice Mahmoud Al-Habbash: "The victory in Jerusalem is coming, it is coming. And Jerusalem is Palestine’s capital forever, forever. And the rubbish of the American president isn’t worth – I say again – is not worth the urine of one Jerusalem child.” Click to view videoClick to view bulletin

Official PA TV, excerpt of sermon by Supreme Shari’ah Judge, Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs, and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice Mahmoud Al-Habbash at the mosque in the PA headquarters in Ramallah
Supreme Shari’ah Judge and Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash: "Jerusalem is only ours, only ours. They [the Americans] know it. It is a strange thing that a state that is only a little older than 200 years. takes a stand toward a city that is 5,000 years old. Where was America when Jerusalem was built, that it should decide whose capital it is? And where was Israel when Jerusalem was built? Jerusalem was here before America and before Israel and before Europe and before this entire world. We were in Jerusalem more than 5,000 years ago, and we have not left it... America, which - as they say - was born yesterday, wants to decide the fate of a city whose age is greater than history." Click to view video

Abbas’ advisor’s statement came in response to US President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Dec. 6, 2017. Trump instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He added that the final borders of Jerusalem will be determined during negotiations.

Supreme Shari’ah Judge and Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash: "Yesterday you saw, brothers, how the world returned a slap to American President [Trump], how the entire world that the American president had threatened, stuck its tongue out at him and said: 'We are not bought with your dollars, and we are not bought with your aid. From the outset, you did not give us aid because of our beautiful eyes. You aid us for your own interest, and out of your own interests and calculations. So stop this aid!'" Cick to view video

Abbas’ advisor’s statement came in response to US President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Dec. 6, 2017. Trump instructed the State Department to begin preparations to transfer the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He added that the final borders of Jerusalem will be determined during negotiations.

Official PA TV, Friday sermon by Supreme Shari’ah Judge, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs, and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice Mahmoud Al-Habbash at the Mausoleum Mosque near former PLO and PA Chairman Yasser Arafat’s grave in Ramallah

Supreme Shari’ah Judge, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs, and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice Mahmoud Al-Habbash: "Yesterday you saw, brothers, how the world returned a slap to American President [Trump], how the entire world that the American president had threatened, stuck its tongue out at him and said: 'We are not bought with your dollars, and we are not bought with your aid. From the outset, you did not give us aid because of our beautiful eyes. You aid us for your own interest, and out of your own interests and calculations. So stop this aid!"

“Supreme Shari’ah Judge of Palestine, [PA] President [Mahmoud Abbas’] advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs, [and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice] Mahmoud Al-Habbash emphasized that the occupation state is playing with fire when it attempts to change the status quo in Jerusalem…
Al-Habbash demanded that the members of the Palestinian people in Jerusalem and in the 1948 territories (i.e., Israel) and everyone who can come to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, carry out Ribat (i.e., religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) in it, and protect its sanctity…
Al-Habbash warned the occupation government not to take any crazy steps regarding the holy city and the holy sites in it following the reckless and irresponsible decision of the American administration (i.e., to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and transfer the US embassy to it).”
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Official PA TV, Friday prayers at the mosque at the PA headquarters in Ramallah, sermon by Mahmoud Al-Habbash.

Supreme Shari’ah Judge and Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs, Mahmoud Al-Habbash: "This crime that American President [Trump] committed [by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital] is not only against Palestine, but also against all of humanity, against the Muslims, and against the Christians. How does he allow himself to give the keys to Jerusalem to those who are not its people? He wants to repeat the sin and crime of [former British Foreign Secretary] Balfour... How do the Muslims of the world allow this sin? How do the Christians of the world allow handing over the keys to [the Church of] the Holy Sepulchre to those who are not from Jerusalem, to those who are not Palestinians... It could be that everyone knows and everyone assumes that this sin, which the American president committed, will open the gates of hell, as Sheikh Al-Azhar said – not only in the East, but in both the East and the West. Nobody should think, wherever he is in the world, that he will be able to prevent the consequences of this sin... Jerusalem is ours and not yours. It has been ours for 5,000 years and it will remain ours until Allah will inherit the earth and whoever is on it." Click to view bulletinClick to view video

Headline: “Vatican Prime Minister: Transferring the American embassy to Jerusalem will endanger the stability and peace in the world”
“Supreme Shari’ah Judge of Palestine, [PA] President [Mahmoud Abbas’] advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs, [and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice] Mahmoud Al-Habbash met yesterday [Dec. 5, 2017] with Vatican Prime Minister (sic., Secretary of State) Cardinal [Pietro] Parolin, and discussed with him the latest developments regarding Jerusalem and the consequences of the American administration’s inclination to transfer its embassy to [Jerusalem] and recognize it as the capital of Israel. During the meeting, which was held in the Vatican, Al-Habbash emphasized that the steps that the US intends to take against Jerusalem place the entire region on the boil, and pave the way to a deterioration of the situation in the region in a tragic manner whose results are unimaginable. He noted that the entire world will suffer from the consequences of this decision.”Click to view bulletin
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Headline: “Al-Habbash: The entire world is liable to pay the price if the reality changes in Jerusalem”

“[PA] President [Mahmoud Abbas’] advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs, Supreme Shari’ah Judge of Palestine, [and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice] Mahmoud Al-Habbash said that these days there is much talk targeting Jerusalem , among them [reports] that the US wants to recognize it as the capital of Israel as a prelude to transferring the American embassy to it.
During a speech that he gave yesterday [Dec. 2, 2017] at a ceremony for the birthday of Prophet [Muhammad] at the [PA] presidential headquarters in Ramallah on behalf of President [Abbas] and in [Abbas’] presence, Al-Habbash added: ‘The clear position of the president, the Palestinian people, the Arab nation, and the Islamic nation is that if this occurs, it means the total destruction of the peace process. We say this clearly – if any change takes place in the political reality of Jerusalem, the entire world will pay the price of this targeting and change.’ He continued: ‘Jerusalem is our capital, and we will not agree to anything else. Any other plan – it would be better that its developers keep it to themselves. This is not only our position; it is the position of the Arab and Islamic nation, led by our brothers in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan.’”

"Supreme Shari’ah Judge of Palestine, [PA] President [Mahmoud Abbas’] advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs, [and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice] Dr. Mahmoud Al-Habbash… explained that the Palestinians in all of their varieties and leaders, and the Arabs and Muslims together with them, will never allow the occupation authorities to impose their sovereignty over the Jerusalem Noble Sanctuary (i.e., the Temple Mount), which was and will remain a purely Islamic mosque, over which non-Muslims have no sovereignty. This is as was determined by divine decree in the holy Quran and also by UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) resolutions, despite all the acts of falsifying history and distorting historical facts that the Israeli occupation state is attempting to carry out."

Note: Israel has publically stated multiple times that it has no intention whatsoever of changing the status quo at the Temple Mount.

“Supreme Shari’ah Judge of Palestine, [PA] President [Mahmoud Abbas’] advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash denied the publications of several people on social media about statements attributed to him regarding the Martyrs (Shahids) that fell in recent days in the Gaza Strip (refers to terrorists killed in an attack tunnel in Israeli territory; Reports were published on Facebook alleging that Al-Habbash condemned tunnel digging and said that those who die digging a tunnel are not Martyrs –Ed.).
Al-Habbash said in a press statement: ‘We are proud of our Martyrs and the members of our people that stand firm everywhere who have fallen because of the criminal occupation – whatever the path and location by which they have risen [to Heaven]. We consider all of them Martyrs with Glorious Allah.’ [...]
Al-Habbash emphasized that whoever published this fake and baseless news item will be prosecuted and persecuted by the people, because the Martyrs are more honorable than all of us, and all of us bow our heads before the heroic acts of the members of our people and their sacrifices in the struggle against the occupier that steals our land, our Jerusalem, and our freedom.”
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"[PA] Supreme Shari’ah Judge and [PA] President [Mahmoud Abbas’] advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash emphasized that the Balfour Promise (i.e., Declaration) is a promise from one without ownership to one that is undeserving. [Al-Habbash] held Britain responsible for the tragedy resulting from [the promise], and from which the members of our people and the peoples of the region are suffering due to this ominous promise, and [said] that this injustice must disappear so that the world and region will live calmly and in peace. [Al-Habbash] added that this crime that Britain committed caused tragedies to the Palestinian people, and it is a crime against our people and the Muslims in general…
He noted that after 100 years, instead of Britain apologizing it is holding a celebration for the anniversary of this crime, and British Prime Minister [Theresa May] is proud of her country's crime, due to which blood was spilled and rights were stolen… The supreme Shari'ah judge explained that after 100 years of oppression, our people is still resisting, and its determination has not been broken."
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“Supreme Shari’ah Judge and [PA] President [Mahmoud Abbas’] advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash emphasized the brotherhood between the Muslims in all countries of the world… Al-Habbash said this yesterday [Oct. 27, 2017] during a Friday sermon at the Mercies of the World Mosque in Hyderabad, India…
He noted that the Al-Aqsa Mosque is occupied because of the rift between the Muslims [internally] and because of their weakness, and that Al-Aqsa Mosque will not revert to being under the rule of Islam until the Muslims unite.
Al-Habbash demanded that the Muslims act to liberate the Al-Aqsa Mosque and fill it through visits from around the world... [Al-Habbash added:] ‘This is the least the Muslims must do today – to fill the Al-Aqsa Mosque, to visit it, to close themselves inside it, and to carry out Ribat (i.e., religious conflict/war over land claimed to be Islamic) in it – as is being done in Jerusalem by the Palestinians who are struggling against the occupier and carrying out Jihad through Ribat, prayer, and closing themselves in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its plazas.’ He continued: ‘My advice to you is to make a decision in your hearts to visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and that today you turn the visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque into part of your Jihad…’”

Supreme Shari’ah Judge and Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs, Mahmoud Al-Habbash: "In another few days we will mark the miserable anniversary of the ugly injustice and ugly crime that befell our people, through what is known as the Balfour Promise (i.e., Declaration). In another few days, on Nov. 2 [2017], it will be 100 years of the ugliest injustice to ever befall [our] people in this land, in the modern age. One with no ownership of this land – Foreign Secretary [Arthur Balfour] of Britain which occupied Palestine while having no ownership of any part of Palestine, not even one millimeter or one grain of sand – gave a promise to one undeserving who has no connection to this land, not religiously or historically, at the expense of the Palestinian people... They [Britain] have no ownership and they have no right, and those to whom they made the promise [the Jews] have no right to it... Balfour and Britain committed this crime at our expense and at the expense of our history and rights, and this is not consistent with reason, religion, law, and morals." Click to view video
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Headline: “Al-Habbash: Our unity strengthens our intention and whoever wants peace - he must pay the price”
“Supreme Shari’ah Judge, [PA] President] [Mahmoud Abbas’] advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs, [and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah Justice] Mahmoud Al-Habbash… said during the Friday sermon at the Abu Bakr Mosque in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, that the Islamic nation is living today in a situation of retreat and weakness due to the rift and disagreements between the Muslims on many matters, and this is what impacts on the status of the [Islamic] nation and its role among the nations, and the result of this weakness is the loss of Palestine and its occupation for the last 100 years that have passed since the ominous [Balfour] Promise (i.e., Declaration) from Britain to give this land to the Jews.”

Official PA TV, Friday prayers from the mosque at the PA headquarters in Ramallah. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah Central Committee member Jamal Muhaisen are in the audience.

Mahmoud Al-Habbash, Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor on Religious and Islamic Affairs and Supreme Shari’ah Judge: "One of the representatives of the superpowers - who some people consider to be the most expert and knowledgeable people, the greatest supporters of justice, and the greatest democrats - one of them [US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman] spoke several days ago about the occupation, which is clear even to the biggest idiot, and all the more so to a wise man. Regarding the Israeli occupation of the land of Palestine - he [Friedman] said that it is an ‘alleged occupation,’ in other words: ‘You claim there is an occupation? It isn't really an occupation.’ What idiocy is this? What satanic urge motivates these people? These are people who have lost all morals, who watch the oppressed and support the oppressors and stand by their side." Click to view videoClick to view bulletin

In an interview with the Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post on Sept. 1, 2017, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman was asked what had taken him most by surprise since being appointed ambassador.
His response: “'I think the American Jewish community tends to look at Israel somewhat myopically,' he said. The Right, he said, is portrayed as believing that peace is not possible. The Left, he explained, is portrayed as believing that only if the 'alleged